Dear fellow travelers,
Greetings from Daniela Uslan! Today, I’m thrilled to recommend the magnificent Govone Castle in Piedmont, Italy.
This 18th-century marvel is a testament to Baroque architecture, boasting:
• Stunning frescoes by Giuseppe Dallamano
• Exquisite marble interiors
• A unique Chinese room with hand-painted wallpaper
The castle’s crowning jewel is its sprawling English-style park, designed by Xavier Kurten. With its winding paths and exotic plants, it’s a nature lover’s paradise.
Quick facts:
• UNESCO World Heritage site since 1997
• Former residence of the Royal House of Savoy
• Open from March to December
• Located in Govone, about 50 km from Turin
Pro tip: Visit during the Christmas Market (November-December) for a truly enchanting experience.
Govone Castle is a must-see for history buffs, art enthusiasts, and anyone seeking a slice of Italian grandeur. Don’t miss this hidden gem!.
It stands on a lush hill from which you can enjoy an incredible panorama of the Cuneo area: it is the castle of Govone, which stands where an ancient military fortress once stood. It became one of the royal residences of the Savoy family at the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries, and today it still retains its old-world charm. The palace has also been listed among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites., just inside the circuit of Savoy residences in Piedmont. Let’s discover its beauty and its wonderful park that surrounds it.
Where the castle of Govone is located
The ancient castle of Govone stands on the top of a hill that overshadows a small historic village of great charm: this is Govone, which has just over 2,000 inhabitants and is located in the province of Cuneo. The magnificent territory that surrounds the town and its castle is that of the Roero and Monferrato, home to beautiful hills cultivated with vineyards and fine wines known throughout the world. The panorama is truly evocative, and it is here today that one can admire this enchanting Savoyan noble residence and its lush park.
The castle of Govone: the history
The hill that today houses the village of Govone and its castle, in medieval times, saw an ancient fortress towering. It was in the same area that, towards the end of the 17th century, the Solaro counts decided to build a manor house intended as a noble residence, and no longer for defensive purposes. The project was entrusted to the architect Guarino Guarini, who began to organize the work of enlarging and embellishing the castle, but it was soon halted. Only a century later, thearchitect Benedetto Alfieri took matters into his own hands and succeeded in completing the renovation work, giving Govone a charming palace.
The royal family of Savoy found there a pleasant paradise in which to spend their vacations: the castle of Govone thus became a Savoy residence starting in 1792, and a few years later King Charles Felix and his wife Maria Christina of Bourbon-Naples chose it as their summer resort (along with the ducal castle of Agliè). During the 1800s, the Savoy initiated extensive restoration work that included most of the interior rooms and the Italian garden located within the park. At the beginning of the last century, the castle was purchased by the Municipality of Govone.
Today is open to the public and is the site of important cultural, artistic and musical events.The castle of Govone is an integral part of the social fabric of the village that hosts it, as well as a source of tourism because of the many visitors who come from all over Italy to admire its beauty. Part of the importance that the manor holds in the cultural landscape of our country is also due to some illustrious guests who had the opportunity to frequent it, including the philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau. The palace is also part of the circuit of the 8 Doc Castles, along with the castles of Grinzane Cavour, Barolo, Serralunga d’Alba, Magliano Alfieri, Roddi, Mango and Benevello.
The interior rooms of the castle of Govone
The castle of Govone is a riot of rooms richly decorated with fine materials, of splendid marbles and precious ancient frescoes. The atrium, which features stucco finishes in clear Baroque style, opens onto the wide grand staircase: these are twin staircases guarded by imposing telamons from the Reggia di Venaria, from which one reaches the main floor. But before exploring its rich rooms, the Montesquieu apartment on the ground floor is worth a visit with its delicate stucco and pastel colors, which now houses the exhibition hall.
Going up to the main floor, here we are faced with the magnificent Ballroom: frescoed with some of the most splendid examples of trompe-l’oeil thanks to the intervention of painters Luigi Vacca and Fabrizio Sevesi during the 19th century, scenes reproducing the mythological episode of Niobe can be admired here. On either side of the hall open the Galleria di Ponente and the Galleria di Levante, both decorated with classical frescoes by Andrea Piazza and Carlo Pagani, who resorted to marvelous effects of optical illusionism.
From the Galleria di Ponente one can reach the Chapel of Saint Christina, a small room with beautiful paintings that once contained a charming altar that has now disappeared. Also in this wing of the castle are the Chinese Rooms, decorated with precious and extremely rare 18th-century Chinese papers depicting the productions of tea, silk, rice and porcelain, as well as splendid floral and faunal themes. Finally, from the Levant Gallery, one arrives at the royal apartments, still among the most beautiful and impressive rooms in the castle.
The king’s apartments are frescoed with paintings by Andrea Piazza and Carlo Pagani, depicting scenes from classical mythology. Also splendid are the wooden furnishings, carved with great care by Giuseppe Maria Bonzanigo. The queen’s apartments are also frescoed with mythological inspirations and furnished in fine wood: from the room there is a door leading to the king’s bedroom.
The wonderful park
The castle of Govone is surrounded by a beautiful park, which also opens onto a wonderful natural terrace that offers a unique view of the hills – and on clear days even allows you to look as far as Monviso. Particularly striking is the garden, dotted with pathways and graceful boxwood hedges: here are born many flowers that color the landscape around the palace, and in spring they provide a delightful spectacle. Every year during the month of March, an event called Tulips at Court is held, a true tradition that attracts thousands of visitors.
There are many who actually flock to the gardens admiring these red buds blooming inside the park. Not far away, however, going outside the castle walls, one can finally visit the rose garden that stands in the center of the village of Govone. It is home to many varieties of old roses, some of which date back to the time when Queen Maria Cristina spent much of her time in this oasis. In May, the rose garden hosts the event Regally Pink to explore this fascinating corner of paradise.
